Matthew was born in Glasgow, Scotland on November 15, 1937. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Oxford University in 1962 and a Master of Arts from Oxford University in 1967. He graduated with a Diploma in Theology from Wells Theological College of England in 1964; and studied at Meadville Lombard Theological School in the early 1970’s.

Rev. McNaught was first ordained as an Episcopalian minister in 1964. He left the Episcopal ministry in 1971, and was fellowshipped as a Unitarian Universalist minister in 1972. He was called to serve as interim minister to the Redhill Universalist Church of Clinton, NC in 1972, and he held that position for one year. Rev. McNaught was ordained by the Community Church Unitarian Universalist of New Orleans, LA in 1973, and went on to serve as their minister from 1973 to 1979; minister to the First Unitarian Church of Austin, TX from 1979 to 1988; and minister to the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church of Lutherville, MD from 1988 to 1998. The Towson UU Church named Rev. McNaught Minister Emeritus in 1998. He went on to serve interim ministries at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Lauderdale, FL from 1998 to 1999; King’s Chapel of Boston, MA from 1999 to 2001; the Unitarian Society of Germantown of Philadelphia, PA from 2001 to 2002; Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River of Chestertown, MD from 2002 to 2004; and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Sterling, VA from 2005 to 2007.

Rev. McNaught was involved with the denomination in various capacities. He served as Program Director of the Southwest Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute in 1979; Secretary of the Southwest Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association in 1981; President of the Southwest Minister’s Association from 1982 to 1983; Member of the Denominational Committee on Continuing Education for the Ministry in 1988; and Minister in Residence at the 1993 Star Island Arts Conference.

Matthew served as examining chaplain to the Bishop of Pittsburg from 1970 to 1971; as a Field Consultant with the St. Louis Educational Center from 1972 to 1978. He did chaplaincy work at the Orleans Parish Prison from 1977 to 1978 and at the Bastrop Federal Corrections Institution from 1983 to 1986. He served as the Unit Chair of the League of Women Voters from 1977 to 1979; and Chair of the Community Advisory Councils for New Orleans Public Schools in 1979. During his time in Maryland, Matthew served as President of the Maryland CRC and President of the Towson Ministers Association. He was involved with Maryland Against Handguns and co-founded the Maryland Interfaith Conference on Affordable Housing.

Matthew was passionate about Adult Religious Education and he helped build strong and vibrant programs within the congregations that he served. In the late 1990’s, he lectured at John Hopkins University on “The History of Liberal Protestantism”; and on “The Interface of Religion and Psychology.” He led seminars on “The Quest of Historical Jesus,” “The Theology of Soren Kierkegaard” and many others.

Matthew is survived by his wife, Anna Bennett McNaught; and his son, Mark Bennett McNaught.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Smile Train, an international children’s charity that offers cleft lip and palate surgery to children in developing countries. The organization has empowered local doctors in 85+ developing countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery in their communities.